No abstract available.
Humans* ; Myelin Basic Protein* ; Myelin Sheath* ; Myelin-Associated Glycoprotein* ; Oligodendroglia*

BDNF is a protein that allows the survival and differentiation of the central nervous system. In the present study, we have examined the postnatal development of BDNF -immunoreactive (IR) neuron system in the forebrain and the upper brain stem of the rat using immunohistochemistry. In the piriform cortex, claustrum, CA2 and 3, anterodorsal and paraventricular thalamic nucleus (nu.), ventromedial hypothalamic nu. and substantia nigra, BDNF-IR neurons were detected at postnatal day 1. BDNF-IR neurons in the anterior olfactory n., layers V and VI of the neocortex, claustrum, dentate gyrus, basolateral amygdaloid nu., paraventricular hypothalamic nu., mammillary nu. first appeared at postnatal 1 week of age and tended to increase in number as the rats grew. BDNF -IR neurons in ventromedial and paraventricular hypothalamic nu., mammillary nu., and substantia nigra decreased in number and none or only a few BDNF-IR neurons were seen in these areas of the adult rats. However, after treatment of colchicine, these areas showed numerous BDNF-IR neurons. BDNF-IR axon terminals were found in the septal nu., central amygdaloid nu., bed nu., of the stria terminalis, anterior ventral, anterior medial, interanteromedial and paravertricular thalamic nu., at postnatal day 1 and in dentate gyrus and paraventricular hypothalamic nu., at 1 week of age, respectively. These terminals in general continued to increase in number as the rats grew. Our results showed that BDNF immunoreactivity increased in various regions of the postnatally developing rat brain and suggest that BDNF might play an important role in neuronal maturation.
Adult ; Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain Stem ; Brain* ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Central Nervous System ; Colchicine ; Dentate Gyrus ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Midline Thalamic Nuclei ; Neocortex ; Neurons* ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Prosencephalon ; Rats* ; Substantia Nigra

Mast cells play a protective role in host defense against bacteria, and are found in high number at the host-environment interface. Stimulation of mast cells by bacterial cell wall components is essential for their protective effects against entero-bacterial infection. Mast cells have an extraordinarily long longevity in peripheral tissues compared to other types of blood cells. We undertook this study to reveal the mechanism underlying the prevention on IL-3 deprivation-induced apoptosis in mast cells by LPS. Bone marrow derived mast cells (BMMCs) were obtained from femurs of BALB/c mice and cultured under IL-3 stimulation for 4-6 weeks. At the same point when IL-3 was depleted, BMMCs were treated with LPS. To examine the effect of LPS, DNA electrophoresis, Western blotting, immunoflourescense staining, confocal microscopy, RT-PCR and immunoprecipitation were conducted. IL-3 deprivation reduced cellular viability and induced nuclear condensation and translocation of apoptosisassociated factors. However, LPS treatment prevented these IL-3 deprivation-induced apoptotic events. IL-3 deprivation downregulated representative antiapoptotic factors such as XIAP, 14-3-3, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. Expression level of these factors was maintained in BMMCs treated by LPS, which was similar to the level in the control cells. The Bim to Bcl-2 interaction was increased in IL-3 depleted cells, which was prevented by LPS treatment. It was also demonstrated that LPS induced the new expression of a cytokine-induced antiapoptotic factor anamorsin gene in BMMCs under IL-3 deprived condition. Taken together, LPS prevents IL-3 deprivation induced apoptosis in BMMCs via several antiapoptotic factors. This preventive mechanism of LPS on BMMCs apoptosis may contribute the long longevity of mast cells in the peripheral tissue.
Animals ; Apoptosis* ; Bacteria ; Blood Cells ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow ; Cell Wall ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Femur ; Immunoprecipitation ; Interleukin-3* ; Longevity ; Mast Cells* ; Mice ; Microscopy, Confocal

A number of Korean terminologies describing same anatomical structures have been found different between biological and medical fields. These differences can make scientific miscommunication in biomedical fields. So we investigated and analyzed the official Korean biological terminologies (2005), and compared them with Korean anatomical terminologies (2005). Of all Korean biological terminologies, 791 were founded to describe anatomical structures. And concordance rate of 791 biological terminologies with Korean anatomical terminologies was 37.4%, which is significantly lower than that of high school biology terminologies with anatomical terminology (50.3+/-2.7%). This difference in concordance rates is thought to result mainly from the fact that many Sino-Korean terminologies and eponyms are used in biological field. Above results can be served as valuable basic resources for revision and standardization of terminologies used in biomedical fields. Collaboration among anatomists, biologists, and college students is thought to be prerequisite.
Anatomists* ; Biological Science Disciplines* ; Biology ; Cooperative Behavior ; Eponyms ; Humans

A T-box transcription factor gene, Tbx1 is a principal candidate of the most frequent chromosomal deletion syndrome found in human, DiGeorge/velocardiofacial syndrome which is a complex developmental disorder associated with cardiac outflow tract abnormalities, mid facial dysmorphology, velopharyngeal insufficiency and submucosal cleft palate. We performed in situ hybridization against mouse embryo from E13.5 (bud stage) to E18.5 (late bell stage) in order to analyze the expression patterns of Tbx1 in the developing mouse first molar, a derivative of the first pharyngeal arch. Tbx1 transcripts were found in the dental lamina and its surrounding mesenchyme at E13.5 and in the dental organ except enamel knot at E14.5 (cap stage). Tbx1 was strongly expressed in the cervical loop and stratum intermedium but was weak in the dental papilla and dental follicle at E15.5 (early bell stage). At E18.5, Tbx1 was strongly expressed not only in the dental organ (bell stage) except stellate reticulum but also dental papilla and dental follicle adjacent to the inner dental epithelium. In conclusion, Tbx1 transcripts were specifically expressed both in the dental epithelium and surrounding mesenchyme of developing tooth from initiation to bell stage, which were the most similar with those of Sox9 but little different from those of Pitx2 and ectodin. These results strongly suggested that Tbx1 may play a role as a transcription factor regulating proliferation and differentiation of both dental epithelium and mesenchyme through the tooth development.
Animals ; Branchial Region ; Cleft Palate ; Dental Enamel ; Dental Papilla ; Dental Sac ; Embryonic Structures ; Epithelium ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Mesoderm ; Mice* ; Molar* ; Reticulum ; Tooth ; Transcription Factors ; Velopharyngeal Insufficiency

The Eph family is thought to exert its function through the complementary expression of receptors and ligands. The dorsal mesencephalon appears to be segmented into two broad regions demarcated by the mutually exclusive expression of EphA receptors and ephrinA ligands. In this study, we analyzed transgenic embryos expressing ephrinA2 in the anterior region of the developing midbrain where the EphA8 receptor is expressed. First, 1% of transgenic embryos showed cephalic neural tube closure defects. Second, it was confirmed that mis-expression of ephrin-A2 in the anterior mesencephalon induced an increase in the EphA8 tyrosine kinase activity. Accordingly, an increased MAPK activity was also detected in the anterior mesencephalon of E14.5 transgenic embryo. Third, cell adhesion assay revealed that mis-expression of ephrinA2 promoted cell attachment to fibronectin. Taken together, these findings suggest that co-expression of EphA receptors and ephrinA ligands significantly alter cell behaviors including cell adhesion.
Animals ; Cell Adhesion ; Diencephalon* ; Embryonic Structures ; Ephrin-A2 ; Fibronectins ; Humans ; Ligands ; Mesencephalon* ; Mice* ; Mice, Transgenic ; Neural Tube ; Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; Receptor, EphA8 ; Receptors, Eph Family

Osteopontin (OPN), is a secreted phosphoprotein that is expressed in the normal kidney. However, little is known about the role of OPN in the kidney. The purpose of this study was to establish the effect of dehydration on renal OPN expression. Dehydrated rats had free access to normal rat chow, but were deprived of water for 3 days. Kidney tissues were preserved by in vivo perfusion with paraformaldehyde-lysine-periodate (PLP) and processed for immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization. Serum sodium concentration and urine osmolality were increased in dehydrated rats. Both OPN mRNA and protein were expressed restrictively in the descending thin limb (DTL) and papillary surface epithelium (PSE) in control kidneys. In dehydrated kidneys, there was an increase in OPN mRNA and protein expression in the thick ascending limb (TAL) as well as DTL and PSE. Electron microscopy revealed that OPN immunoreactivity in the DTL and TAL cells was located in the Golgi apparatus and in small cytoplasmic vesicles. These results demonstrate that dehydration status increases the expression of OPN in renal tubules and stimulates the secretion into the urine.
Animals ; Cytoplasmic Vesicles ; Dehydration* ; Epithelium ; Extremities ; Golgi Apparatus ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization ; Kidney* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Osmolar Concentration ; Osteopontin* ; Perfusion ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sodium ; Water

An aphidicolin is a chemical agent which selectively inhibits DNA polymerase alpha in S phase of cell cycle. The purpose of this study is toinvestigate of chromosomal abnormalities including fragile sites induced by 0.2 microgram/ml and 0.4 ng/ml aphidicolin in lymphocyte cultures of six healthy individuals. The results were follows. 1. A significant decreasing in mitotic indexes in respect to control culture was observed with both aphidicolin concentrations used. 2. The cells showing chromosome aberrations and the total number of cytogeneticic alterations were significantly increased both aphidicolin treated cultures than control cultures. 3. The total numbers of chromosomal aberrations were increased in the concentration of 0.4 microgram/ml aphidicolin compared to 0.2 microgram/ml treated groups. 4. The most frequent type of chromosomal aberration is a gap. 5. A site showing a gap or break was defined as common fragile sites (c-fra) if it appeared more than 1% of cells analyzed and in at least three of six individuals studied with the same culture treatment. Using these criteria, 3p14, 4q12, 5p13, 6q16, 9p13, and 16q23 were induced in different proportions by different concentration of aphidicolin and four of these c-fras, 4q12, 5p13, 6q16, 9p13 have not been reported so far. This results support that aphidicolin induced fragile sites differently according to cultured cell or cultured conditions, and also suggest the mechanism that common fragile sites caused be closely related with the defect of DNA synthesis in the S phase of cell cycle.
Aphidicolin* ; Cell Cycle ; Cells, Cultured ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; DNA ; DNA Polymerase I ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Mitotic Index ; S Phase

Transglutaminase is an calcium dependent enzyme involved in various biological events such as cell growth and proliferation, apoptosis, fertilization, embryogenesis, and carcinogenesis. Biochemically it can be detected in many organs but no systemic in situ localization has been carried out so far. In the present study we report the immuno-histochemical localization of TG1, 2, 3 in rat kidney tissue using newly purificated polyclonal anti-goat traglutaminase 1 and anti-rabbit polyclonal transglutaminase 2 or 3 antibody. The results are as follows 1. The presence of transglutaminase 1, 2 and 3 was demonstrated in the both renal cortex and renal medulla of the rat. Although the in situ localization patterns were very similar, strength of the immunoreactivity was different; transglutaminase 1, 2, 3 in order. 2. More strong immunoreactivity for transglutaminase 1, 2, 3 were detected in the renal tubule than the renal glomerulus. 3. The strong immunoreactivity was demonstrated in the capsule, brush border of proximal convoluted tubule and collecting duct and thin limb of Henle's loop. The functional implications of these findings are presently unknown. However, based on its wide distribution in the renal tubule, certain essential role of these enzymes in maintaining the electrolytes balance may be suggested.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Calcium ; Carcinogenesis ; Electrolytes ; Embryonic Development ; Extremities ; Female ; Fertilization ; Immunohistochemistry ; Kidney* ; Microvilli ; Pregnancy ; Rats*

In order to review anatomy lectures, medical students use the lecture materials, lecture notebooks, or recorded voices of lectures. These learning materials are not so effective as the movies of anatomy lectures. The purpose of this research is to help medical students review anatomy lectures by giving them the chance to replay the movies of anatomy lectures conveniently on the computer. For the purpose, an anatomy professor presented board lectures (about 14 hours) according to the anatomy units (introduction, back, upper limb, neck, head, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, perineum, and lower limb), which were recorded by camcorders to make movies. The movies were transferred to the computer; subsequently, edited suitably on the Adobe Premiere. The movies were compressed to make MPEG files (size 28.0 GBytes) and WMV files (size 1.4 GBytes). In case of the slide lecture, we made a program, on which lecture movies and slides could be watched concomitantly and conveniently. The movies of anatomy lectures were distributed off-line or on-line to help medical students review the anatomy lectures. This report about techniques of making movies will promote other anatomy professors to make movies of their own anatomy lectures.
Abdomen ; Head ; Humans ; Learning ; Lectures* ; Neck ; Pelvis ; Perineum ; Students, Medical ; Thorax ; Upper Extremity ; Voice